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Evacuation from an Academic Building in Concentrated and Non-Concentrated Occupant Configurations Considering the Influence of Obstacles

Lecznar, Adam H.
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7496-4986
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1649436061221248

Abstract Details

2022, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Industrial and Systems Engineering (Engineering and Technology).
The key objective in an emergency evacuation scenario is to allow all occupants to evacuate as quickly and effectively as possible. This is especially important in multi-level structures, as relatively few exits exist in relation to the population size. Numerous factors influence the ability of occupants to evacuate, including individual and environmental factors. Utilizing Pathfinder software, the current study analyzed the effect of agent position and the presence of obstacles on the Total Evacuation Time (TET) of agents exiting an academic building. Results were analyzed for statistical significance using R, showing that concentrating agents in classrooms reduces TET, while adding obstacles in the form of desks increases the average travel distance. The presence of obstacles was found to increase travel distance by influencing agent travel routes, though this did not have an impact on TET. Concentrating agents in classrooms led to improved evacuation by increasing efficiency of movement through corridors. Both factors influenced the evacuation by adding a level of control to detrimental effects like congestion in stairwells and highlighted the importance of travel through building corridors. Increasing the agent population size still increased the TET and travel distance more drastically than either or both other factors, signifying the importance of designing evacuation strategies to capable of accommodating numerous population sizes.
Dale Masel (Advisor)
Diana Schwerha (Committee Member)
Dusan Sormaz (Committee Member)
Ryan Johnson (Committee Member)
135 p.
Industrial Engineering
Pathfinder Software; Evacuation; Obstacles; TET; Academic Building; Simulation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Lecznar, A. H. (2022). Evacuation from an Academic Building in Concentrated and Non-Concentrated Occupant Configurations Considering the Influence of Obstacles [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1649436061221248

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Lecznar, Adam. Evacuation from an Academic Building in Concentrated and Non-Concentrated Occupant Configurations Considering the Influence of Obstacles. 2022. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1649436061221248.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Lecznar, Adam. "Evacuation from an Academic Building in Concentrated and Non-Concentrated Occupant Configurations Considering the Influence of Obstacles." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2022. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1649436061221248

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1649436061221248
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.
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